The Distracted Dreamer

Carlene Bauwens

Get ready to confidently and unapologetically go after dreams! Welcome to The Distracted Dreamer Podcast. Today is the day you’re going to pull your dreams off the shelf and bring them to the forefront of your life. You are never too tired, too busy, too old, too young, too anything to pursue your dreams. Imagine… the joy and excitement of doing what lights you up. Your dreams are yours. No one gets to take them from you and no one gets to chase them - except you. Your dreams are there to guide you, to inspire you and to show you that yes, there is something more in store for you. You see, the size of your dreams don’t matter - it could be running a marathon, reading a book series, perfecting that family recipe, traveling the world, or learning to dance. I’m Carlene Bauwens, entrepreneur,  Life Coach and now host of The Distracted Dreamer podcast. I’m here to show you how to kick distraction to the curb and grab hold of your dreams. Your happiness matters. You have a big, beautiful, amazing life to live. And you've only got one of them. Welcome to the Distracted Dreamer Podcast.

  1. 6D AGO

    #62: 5 Simple Ways to Finally Start That Thing You Keep Putting Off

    Send Carlene a text Click here to hop on the Dream Studio Waitlist If you’ve been circling around that thing you really want to do… but somehow, it keeps getting pushed to “later”? Yeah. This is your sign. In this episode, I’m walking you through five simple (and surprisingly powerful) ways to start anything — even if you’ve been putting it off for months. These are the same strategies I use with my clients and in my own life when resistance shows up. Whether it’s a big dream, a long-standing project, or even a simple habit you can’t seem to begin, I’m sharing five simple, practical ways to finally get started. These aren’t hacks or rigid routines. Just small, doable steps to help you reconnect with your energy and show up for what matters. And hey — if today’s episode speaks to you, it’s just a tiny sneak peak of the kind of support you’ll get inside Dream Studio. Come join us! 3 KEY TAKE AWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE Starting doesn’t require clarity — just one small move.Two minutes is all it takes to build momentum.You don’t have to go it alone — let someone in.RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE Click here to hop on the Dream Studio Waitlist DOWNLOAD THE FREE START DREAMING AGAIN GUIDE Check out all my coaching and course offerings - Coachcarlene.com MORE FROM ME Follow me on Instagram: @coach_carlene SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more dreamers who need these insights. 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the Distracted Dreamer Podcast! See you next week! FOLLOW NOW Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. I'm adding episodes every week, and if you're not folllowing, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now! Episode Website

    23 min
  2. JAN 5

    #61: The Surprising Reason You’re Holding Back on Your Dreams and How to Fix It

    Send Carlene a text DREAM Studio Waitlist Ever shared your dream with someone you love, only to walk away feeling… smaller? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m talking about the surprising (and sneaky) reason you might still be holding back on the dream that keeps calling your name, and how to fix it. I share a story about a coaching session that stopped me in my tracks and reminded me how powerful (and painful) it can be when our dream bumps up against someone else’s fear. We’ll talk about why this happens, how to spot it, and most importantly how to shift your circle so that the energy around you matches the dream inside you. Because when you ask for support from people who don’t understand what you’re trying to build you don’t feel seen and your dream starts to feel like a risk instead of a calling. Let’s change that. 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE 1️⃣ The wrong support system can make your dream feel like a mistake, even when it’s aligned. 2️⃣ Other people’s fear can quietly shape your decisions if you’re not careful. 3️⃣ You and your dreams will grow in direct proportion to the energy you allow around them. RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE DREAM Studio Waitlist Connected: By  James H. Fowler PhD and Nicholas A. Christakis MD PhD DOWNLOAD THE FREE START DREAMING AGAIN GUIDE Check out all my coaching and course offerings - Coachcarlene.com MORE FROM ME Follow me on Instagram: @coach_carlene SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more dreamers who need these insights. 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the Distracted Dreamer Podcast! See you next week! FOLLOW NOW Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. I'm adding episodes every week, and if you're not folllowing, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now! Episode Website

    17 min
  3. 12/28/2025

    #60: Encore: Why I Don’t Set Goals in January (and What I Do Instead)

    Send Carlene a text RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE GOAL WORKSHOP WAITLIST MY 2025 WRAPPED GUIDE AND PODCAST EPISODE New year energy can feel exciting. And it can be overwhelming. I get it. That's why I'm re-sharing one of your all-time favorite episodes, where I talk about not starting the year with resolutions, rigid goals, or pressure to "get it right." Instead, I'll walk you through the three things I don't do when starting a new year and how this softer approach might help you feel more grounded and aligned as you ease into the new year.  3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE 1️⃣ January is for transition, not reinvention 2️⃣ Intentions create space for becoming, not just achieving 3️⃣ Your dreams deserve more than a rushed resolution And yes — the goal workshop I mention? It’s back this year! Click here to hop on the Waitlist  Also,  give yourself credit for your 2025 with My 2025 Wrapped Guide and podcast episode. It’s a super simple fun way to reflect and celebrate your year! DOWNLOAD THE FREE START DREAMING AGAIN GUIDE Check out all my coaching and course offerings - Coachcarlene.com MORE FROM ME Follow me on Instagram: @coach_carlene SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more dreamers who need these insights. 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the Distracted Dreamer Podcast! See you next week! FOLLOW NOW Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. I'm adding episodes every week, and if you're not folllowing, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now! Episode Website

    19 min
  4. 12/21/2025

    #59: Encore: You’re Never Too Old to Chase Your Dreams

    Send Carlene a text Every year, I see the same cycle play out: New goals in January. Burnout by March. Back to self-doubt and people-pleasing by summer. Sound familiar? This time, let’s do it differently. In this encore episode, I walk you through why “I’m too old” is one of the most dangerous lies we tell ourselves—and how to finally let it go.  From real stories of people who started over in their 40s, 50s, and 70s (!) to my own journey launching this podcast at 56, you’ll get real proof that it’s never too late to take action on what matters most. 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE 1️⃣ Starting over later in life comes with hidden advantages—and serious wisdom 2️⃣ Most people don’t regret aging. They regret waiting. 3️⃣ “Watch me” is a more powerful mantra than “what if" You’ve still got time. And you’ve definitely still got it in you. DOWNLOAD THE FREE START DREAMING AGAIN GUIDE Check out all my coaching and course offerings - Coachcarlene.com MORE FROM ME Follow me on Instagram: @coach_carlene SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more dreamers who need these insights. 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the Distracted Dreamer Podcast! See you next week! FOLLOW NOW Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. I'm adding episodes every week, and if you're not folllowing, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now! Episode Website

    21 min
  5. 12/15/2025

    #58: My Top 3 Book Recs to Make Space for What You Really Want Next Year

    Send Carlene a text Have you ever read a book and thought, “This was written for me”? You see yourself in every story, raising your hand and saying, “Yes, that’s me.” There’s nothing like picking up the right book at the right time — the kind that sticks. In this episode, I’m sharing my top 3 book recommendations from the past year. One changed how I measure progress. Another taught me to say yes, even when I doubted myself. And the last gave me the tools to let go of what I can’t control. These aren’t just “good reads.” They’re page-turners with impact — not the boring self-help books. But self-help wrapped in funny, inspirational, relatable stories.  These stories met me where I was. And they might meet you there too. Isn’t it worth clearing some mental clutter… so you can make space for what really matters? Now’s the perfect time to dive into one (or all three!) of these books — your next year will thank you. 3 KEY TAKE AWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:  1️⃣ Celebrating your progress instead of punishing yourself is where momentum lives  2️⃣ Say “No” nothing changes - but a “Yes” changes everything  3️⃣ It's possible to release what you can’t control — and focus on yourself instead So give yourself a break, curl up with your favorite warm beverage and one of these books. RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: The Gap and The Gain - Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy Year Of Yes - Shonda Rhimes The Let Them Theory - Mel Robbins DOWNLOAD THE FREE START DREAMING AGAIN GUIDE Check out all my coaching and course offerings - Coachcarlene.com MORE FROM ME Follow me on Instagram: @coach_carlene SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more dreamers who need these insights. 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the Distracted Dreamer Podcast! See you next week! FOLLOW NOW Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. I'm adding episodes every week, and if you're not folllowing, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now! Episode Website

    24 min
  6. 12/07/2025

    #57: Your 2025 Wrapped: A Simple, Fun Way to Reflect on Your Year

    Send Carlene a text Download the guide: CREATE YOUR "MY 2025 WRAPPED here It’s that time of year… The time when Spotify and Apple Music tell you which songs you’ve played on repeat all year. But it got me thinking—what if we could create a wrap-up of everything we’ve lived this year? Not just the music and the podcasts, but the full picture. I’m talking about the version of you who navigated joy, mess, growth, fatigue, love, doubt, laughter… all of it. Most of us skip this part. We speed into the next year without honoring the one we just lived. But I think you deserve a pause. A mirror. A moment to say: “Look at me. I made it through.” And this is so much easier to do than you think. In this episode, I’ll walk you through how to create your 2025 Wrapped, including: Clever ways to “research” your year (yes, scrolling your camera roll totally counts)The reflection questions I use myself to rediscover what matteredA magical AI prompt that turns your answers into a poetic recap of your year (tears optional but very real)✨And yes—there’s a free guide to make it even easier (copy/paste easy!). 👉 Download the guide: CREATE YOUR "MY 2025 WRAPPED here 3 KEY TAKE AWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE What you forget often holds clues to what mattered most.Looking back can bring more clarity than planning ahead.You’re allowed to grieve what was hard and still celebrate what was good.Download the guide and get ready to reminisce. This is the kind of fun that actually leaves you feeling clearer, lighter, and more grounded. DOWNLOAD THE FREE START DREAMING AGAIN GUIDE Check out all my coaching and course offerings - Coachcarlene.com MORE FROM ME Follow me on Instagram: @coach_carlene SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more dreamers who need these insights. 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the Distracted Dreamer Podcast! See you next week! FOLLOW NOW Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. I'm adding episodes every week, and if you're not folllowing, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now! Episode Website

    18 min
  7. 12/01/2025

    #56: Becoming the Version of You Your Dream Requires

    Send Carlene a text When we talk about dreams, we usually talk about action — what we need to do, fix, plan, or check off the list. But what if the most important part of dreaming… is becoming?  In this episode, I’m flipping the script — and inviting you to stop obsessing over the to-dos and start focusing on who you need to be in order to actually live inside the dream you're chasing.  Whether it’s motherhood, podcasting, writing a book, or traveling the world — your dream isn’t just asking for your time and energy. It’s asking for your transformation.  3 KEY TAKE AWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ You don’t get the dream because you’re ready — you become ready because of the dream  2️⃣ Every dream asks you to grow — not into someone else, but more of yourself  3️⃣ The five adjectives that describe who you’re becoming are more powerful than your to-do list  Find a quiet spot to make the most of the simple reflection I’ll walk you through to help you shift the focus from doing to being - so you can start living your dream now, not “someday.” DOWNLOAD THE FREE START DREAMING AGAIN GUIDE Check out all my coaching and course offerings - Coachcarlene.com MORE FROM ME Follow me on Instagram: @coach_carlene SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more dreamers who need these insights. 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the Distracted Dreamer Podcast! See you next week! FOLLOW NOW Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. I'm adding episodes every week, and if you're not folllowing, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now! Episode Website

    18 min
  8. 11/24/2025

    #55: How to Manage Year-End Overwhelm and Reclaim Your Joy (Part 2)

    Send Carlene a text You’ve done the inner work — now it’s time to manage everything swirling around you. In Part 2 of this two-part series, we’re shifting outward. From the ever-growing to-do list to tricky family dynamics, from outdated traditions to the pressure to say yes when you know it should be a no — this episode gives you the tools to handle it all with more clarity and calm. You’ll walk away with practical ways to protect your time and energy, navigate hard conversations without spiraling, and find small sparks of joy in the middle of the mess. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: 1️⃣ You can confidently re-prioritize your to-do-list. No second guessing yourself. 2️⃣ Recognize that you can't change others only how you respond (not react) to them. 3️⃣ Joy isn't something you create. It's something you notice.  We may not get the picture-perfect season we dream about, but you can create moments that feel meaningful and joyful. RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: Jefferson Fisher - The Next Conversation: Argue Less Talk More DOWNLOAD THE FREE START DREAMING AGAIN GUIDE Check out all my coaching and course offerings - Coachcarlene.com MORE FROM ME Follow me on Instagram: @coach_carlene SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps me reach more dreamers who need these insights. 🎙️ Thanks for tuning in to the Distracted Dreamer Podcast! See you next week! FOLLOW NOW Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. I'm adding episodes every week, and if you're not folllowing, there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now! Episode Website

    28 min
5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Get ready to confidently and unapologetically go after dreams! Welcome to The Distracted Dreamer Podcast. Today is the day you’re going to pull your dreams off the shelf and bring them to the forefront of your life. You are never too tired, too busy, too old, too young, too anything to pursue your dreams. Imagine… the joy and excitement of doing what lights you up. Your dreams are yours. No one gets to take them from you and no one gets to chase them - except you. Your dreams are there to guide you, to inspire you and to show you that yes, there is something more in store for you. You see, the size of your dreams don’t matter - it could be running a marathon, reading a book series, perfecting that family recipe, traveling the world, or learning to dance. I’m Carlene Bauwens, entrepreneur,  Life Coach and now host of The Distracted Dreamer podcast. I’m here to show you how to kick distraction to the curb and grab hold of your dreams. Your happiness matters. You have a big, beautiful, amazing life to live. And you've only got one of them. Welcome to the Distracted Dreamer Podcast.